Disk recording and/or reproducing device

ABSTRACT

A disk recording and/or reproducing apparatus is provided with:  
     a mechanical deck which is provided with:  
     a disk receiver in which disk carrying means for carrying a disk is(are) stacked, and  
     a disk recording and/or reproducing section for recording and/or reproducing the disk received in the disk receiver; and  
     an outer case casing the mechanical deck.  
     A relaxation mechanism and a lock mechanism are disposed between the mechanical deck and the outer case. The relaxation mechanism prevents vibration from being transmitted mutually between the mechanical deck and the outer case. The lock mechanism locks the mechanical deck to the outer case in such a manner as to oppose a relaxing operation of the relaxation mechanism. Thereby, operational vibration, noise and the like caused to the mechanical deck during recordation and/or reproduction can be prevented from being transmitted to the outer case&#39;s side.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to a disk recording and/orreproducing apparatus receiving therein a plurality of disks forrecordation and/or reproduction of the disks.

BACKGROUND TECHNIQUE

[0002] As a disk recording and/or reproducing apparatus installed in avehicle for the purpose of reproducing a sound, there is provided a diskplayer. The disk player employs a method of receiving a plurality ofdisks, for example, compact disks {hereinafter referred to as “CD(s)”}in a magazine, and replacing the plurality of the CDs all together inthe magazine (as a unit) for once. Since the disk player is made largein size due to above arrangement, a main body of the disk player isreceived in a trunk, while installed in a passenger compartment are onlyportions (of the disk player) necessary for operations. However, sincethe CDs cannot be replaced during vehicle travel, it is necessary tostop the vehicle and open the trunk for replacing the CDs, causinginconveniences.

[0003] In response to the above inconvenience, an on-vehicle disk playerto be put in the passenger compartment has been developed in recentyears. The on-vehicle disk player is required to receive the pluralityof the CDs, and is put in a predetermined space of a dashboard in thepassenger compartment. Therefore, it is important to make the on-vehicledisk player small in size.

[0004] The on-vehicle disk player has a mechanical deck and an outercase casing the mechanical deck. The mechanical deck has a diskreceiver, and a recording and/or reproducing section for recordation andreproduction of the CDs received in the disk receiver. Morespecifically, the disk receiver is the one that has, for example,six-stacked trays each carrying thereon the CD in a chassis which haspredetermined size such as 1 DIN and the like.

[0005] The above recording and/or reproducing section is floatablysupported to the mechanical deck via a relaxation mechanism (floatingmechanism) such that the recording and/or reproducing section canreproduce the CD with any external vibration shut off.

[0006] The above conventional disk player has the recording and/orreproducing section which is, as described above, floatably supported tothe mechanical deck via the relaxation mechanism (floating mechanism),thus preventing the external vibration from being transmitted to therecording and/or reproducing section. On the contrary, the aboveconventional disk player cannot, however, prevent vibration, noise andthe like caused by the mechanical deck, from leaking externally via theouter case.

[0007] It is therefore an object of the present invention to solve theabove conventional problems, and to thereby provide the disk recordingand/or reproducing apparatus which can prevent the vibration, noise andthe like caused during operation of the mechanical deck, from leakingexternally via the outer case.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

[0008] Under the present invention, a disk recording and/or reproducingapparatus is provided with:

[0009] a mechanical deck which is provided with:

[0010] a disk receiver in which disk carrying means for carrying a diskis(are) stacked, and

[0011] a disk recording and/or reproducing section for recording and/orreproducing the disk received in the disk receiver; and

[0012] an outer case casing the mechanical deck.

[0013] In the disk recording and/or reproducing apparatus, a relaxationmechanism and a lock mechanism are disposed between the mechanical deckand the outer case. The relaxation mechanism prevents vibration frombeing transmitted mutually between the mechanical deck and the outercase. The lock mechanism locks the mechanical deck to the outer case insuch a manner as to oppose a relaxing operation of the relaxationmechanism.

[0014] The relaxation mechanism can allow the mechanical deck in afloating state such that the disk can be recorded and/or reproducedwithout any external vibration transmitted to the recording and/orreproducing section. In addition, operational vibration, noise and thelike caused to the mechanical deck can be prevented from beingtransmitted to the outer case's side during recordation and/orreproduction.

[0015] Moreover, under the present invention, the lock mechanism is soconstituted as to lock the mechanical deck in a disk insertion-ejectionmode, and unlock the mechanical deck in a mode other than the diskinsertion-ejection mode where the mechanical deck is in operation.

[0016] With the constitution of the lock mechanism described above, theoperational vibration, noise and the like caused to the mechanical deckcan be prevented from being transmitted to the outer case' side even inthe mode other than the disk insertion-ejection mode.

BRIEF EXPLANATION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a mechanical deck taken out of anouter case.

[0018]FIG. 2 is a plan view of the mechanical deck cased in the outercase.

[0019]FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a relaxation mechanism.

[0020]FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a locked portion ispositioned in a lock groove.

[0021]FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the locked portion ispositioned in an unlock groove.

[0022]FIG. 6 is an external perspective view of a disk player, showing adisk recording and/or reproducing apparatus, according to a mode forcarrying out the invention.

[0023]FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the disk player.

[0024]FIG. 8(a) is an exploded perspective view of a disk receiver ofthe disk player, while FIG. 8(b) is a perspective view showing a traywith its essential part broken.

[0025]FIG. 9 shows the disk receiver of the disk player, in which;

[0026]FIG. 9(a) is a plan view, and

[0027]FIG. 9(b) is a front view.

[0028]FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a plate spring.

[0029]FIG. 11 is a view showing that the plate spring is lifted.

[0030]FIG. 12 is a perspective view of an inside of front part of achassis, viewed from back side of the chassis.

[0031]FIG. 13 is an exploded perspective view of a conveying means, arotary force supplying means, and the like.

[0032]FIG. 14 shows a spring disposed between a dive shaft and afollower shaft, in which;

[0033]FIG. 14(a) is a constitution of the spring, and

[0034]FIG. 14(b) is a left side view of FIG. 14(a).

[0035]FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the spring disposed between thedrive shaft and the follower shaft.

[0036]FIG. 16 shows positioning rods relative to longitudinal rollerswhich are disposed in the chassis, in which;

[0037]FIG. 16(a) is a plan view, and

[0038]FIG. 16(b) is a front view.

[0039]FIG. 17 is an enlarged view of the longitudinal roller.

[0040]FIG. 18 is a perspective view of a reproducing means.

[0041]FIG. 19 shows an essential cross section of a sandwiching means.

[0042]FIG. 20 is a plan view of a pickup unit.

[0043]FIG. 21 is an explanatory view of a CD positioner disposed at alower arm.

[0044]FIG. 22 shows a positioning means, in which;

[0045]FIG. 22(a) is a back face view where a sandwiching means isdisposed in a standby position, and

[0046]FIG. 22(b) is the back face view where the sandwiching means isdisposed in a reproduction position.

[0047]FIG. 23 is a plan view showing an area in the vicinity of armlocking means.

[0048]FIG. 24 is an exploded perspective view of the arm locking means.

[0049]FIG. 25 shows an operating means, in which;

[0050]FIG. 25(a) is a front view of a pickup lift base and a disk liftbase,

[0051]FIG. 25(b) is a front view of an inner slider, and

[0052]FIG. 25(c) is a front view of an outer slider.

[0053]FIG. 26(a) is an explanatory view of the operating means showing amode switching position in an insertion-ejection mode for inserting andejecting the CD, and

[0054]FIG. 26(b) is an explanatory view showing positioning of thelocked portion relative to a locking portion.

[0055]FIG. 27 shows a state for inserting and ejecting the seconduppermost CD, in which;

[0056]FIG. 27(a) is an explanatory view for showing operation of theoperating means in the standby state wherein the second uppermost CD isselected, and

[0057]FIG. 27(b) is an explanatory view for showing operation of theoperating means when the shutter is open.

[0058]FIG. 28 is an explanatory view showing operation of the operatingmeans when an ejector lever is turned for ejecting the second uppermostCD.

[0059]FIG. 29 shows a state for reproducing the CD, in which;

[0060]FIG. 29(a) is an explanatory view showing operation of theoperating means when a sixth uppermost CD is reproduced, and

[0061]FIG. 29(b) is an explanatory view showing operation of theoperating means when an uppermost CD is reproduced.

[0062]FIG. 30 shows a state for reproducing a second uppermost CD, inwhich;

[0063]FIG. 30(a) is an explanatory view showing operation of theoperating means when a pin is disposed in a position D in the standbystate, and

[0064]FIG. 30(b) is an explanatory view showing operation of theoperating means when the pin is disposed in a position I in areproduction state.

[0065]FIG. 31 shows the disk player before inserting the CD, in which;

[0066]FIG. 31(a) is a plan view, and

[0067]FIG. 31(b) is a front view.

[0068]FIG. 32 is a cross sectional side view of the disk player wheninserting the CD.

[0069]FIG. 33 shows an ejecting means when ejecting the CD, in which;

[0070]FIG. 33(a) is a plan view, and

[0071]FIG. 33(b) is a front view.

[0072]FIG. 34 is cross sectional side view of the ejecting means whenthe CD is ejected.

[0073]FIG. 35 shows operation of one of the separating cams, in which;

[0074]FIG. 35(a) is an explanatory view showing movement of the trayrelative to the separating cam, and

[0075]FIG. 35(b) is an explanatory view showing upward-downward movementof the upper arm relative to the separating cam.

[0076]FIG. 36 shows operation of the other of the separating cams, inwhich;

[0077]FIG. 36(a) is an explanatory view showing movement of the trayrelative to the separating cam, and

[0078]FIG. 36(b) is an explanatory view showing the arm locking meansrelative to the separating cam.

[0079]FIG. 37 is a side view showing a state that the separating camstarts separating the trays.

[0080]FIG. 38 is a side view showing a state that the trays areseparated into two groups.

[0081]FIG. 39 is a side view showing a state that the trays areseparated into three groups.

[0082]FIG. 40 is a side view showing that after the trays are separatedinto three groups the selected tray only is lowered, and thereafter isput on a turn table to be sandwiched with the sandwiching means.

[0083]FIG. 41 is a side view showing that after the selected CD issandwiched with the sandwiching means the selected tray only is furtherlowered to be spaced apart from the selected CD.

[0084]FIG. 42 is an explanatory view showing a state that the platespring of the selected tray is lifted in a period of reproduction,thereby releasing the selected CD.

[0085]FIG. 43 shows the rotary force supplying means, in which;

[0086]FIG. 43(a) is an explanatory view showing a state that the rotaryforce is not supplied, and

[0087]FIG. 43(b) is an explanatory view showing a state that the rotaryforce is supplied.

[0088]FIG. 44 is an explanatory operation view showing a state that therotary force is supplied to the sandwiching means.

[0089]FIG. 45 is an explanatory operation view showing a state that thesandwiching means occupies a standby position.

[0090]FIG. 46 is an explanatory operation view showing a state that thesandwiching means occupies a reproduction position.

[0091]FIG. 47 is an explanatory operation view showing a state of aregulating means when the sandwiching means occupies the standbyposition.

[0092]FIG. 48 shows the regulating means with the sandwiching meansoccupying the reproduction position, in which;

[0093]FIG. 48(a) is an explanatory operation view showing thatsandwiching operation is prevented, and

[0094]FIG. 48(b) is an explanatory operation view showing that theprevention of the sandwiching operation is released.

[0095]FIG. 49 is an explanatory operation view showing a state that thesandwiching means sandwiches the CD after the regulating means releasesthe prevention of the sandwiching operation.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0096] Hereinafter described is a mode for carrying out the presentinvention on a disk recording and/or reproducing apparatus.

[0097] According to the mode for carrying out the invention, the presentinvention is applied to a disk player which reproduces sound. FIG. 1 isa perspective view of a mechanical deck which is taken out of an outercase. FIG. 2 is a plan view of the mechanical deck cased in the outercase. The above disk player is constituted of a mechanical deck 201, anouter case 202, a relaxation mechanism 203, and a lock mechanism 204.The mechanical deck 201 is equipped with a disk receiver in which diskcarrying means is(are) stacked, and a recording and/or reproducingsection for recording and/or reproducing the disk which is received inthe disk receiver. The mechanical deck 201 is cased in the outer case202. The relaxation mechanism 203 is disposed between the mechanicaldeck 201 and the outer case 202, and prevents vibration from beingtransmitted mutually between the mechanical deck 201 and the outer case202. The lock mechanism 204 locks the mechanical deck 201 to the outercase 202's side in such a manner as to oppose relaxation attributable tothe relaxation mechanism 203.

[0098] As is seen in an exploded perspective view in FIG. 3, therelaxation mechanism 203 is constituted of a first plate 205, a secondplate 206, a pair of rubber dampers 208, a plurality of tensile coilsprings 209. The first plate 205 is mounted to a side face of the outercase 202. The second plate 206 is mounted to a side face of themechanical deck 201. By means of a pair of pins 207 of the second plate206, the pair of the rubber dampers 208 are disposed between the fistplate 205 and the second plate 206. The tensile coil spring 209 has afirst end engaging with the first plate 205 and a second end (oppositeto the first end) engaging with the second plate 206, thereby hangingthe mechanical deck 201 on the outer case 202. The relaxation mechanisms203 are disposed on both sides of the mechanical deck 201.

[0099] The lock mechanism 204 is constituted of a locked portion 210disposed on the mechanical deck 201's side, and a locking portion 211disposed on the outer case 202's side.

[0100] The locked portion 210 is formed by mounting a pin to an outerslider 140 (an outer slider of an operating means 9 to be describedafterward) which is slidably disposed on the side face of the mechanicaldeck 201.

[0101] The locking portion 211 is formed by making a long groove on thefirst plate 205 of the relaxation mechanism 203. The locking portion 211has a lock groove 212 engaging with the locked portion 210 in a diskinsertion-ejection mode, and an unlock groove 213 disengaging from thelocked portion 210 in a mode other than the disk insertion-ejectionmode.

[0102] As is seen in FIG. 4, the locked portion 210 movably engages withthe lock groove 212 in the disk insertion-ejection mode, with themechanical deck 201 locked to the outer case 202. Contrary to this, asis seen in FIG. 5, the locked portion 210 is movably disposed in theunlock groove 213 in the mode other than the insertion-ejection mode,with the mechanical deck 201 unlocked. Hereinafter described areparticulars of each portion.

[0103] (A) Overall Constitution of Disk Player

[0104] As is seen in FIG. 6 to FIG. 25, the disk player is, as a whole,constituted of the outer case 202 (defining an overall configuration ofthe disk player), a chassis 1 (of the mechanical deck 201), a diskreceiver 3, a conveying means 5, an opening-closing means 6, areproducing means 7, an ejecting means 8, and the operating means 9. Thedisk receiver 3 is disposed on a front side of the chassis 1, andreceives the CD. The conveying means 5 is disposed at aninsertion-ejection hole 4 of a front plate 1 a of the chassis 1. Theconveying means 5 inserts the CD into the disk receiver 3 and ejects theCD from the disk receiver 3. The opening-closing means 6 is disposed ona front side of the conveying means 5, and opens/closes theinsertion-ejection hole 4 of the front plate 1 a. The reproducing means7 is disposed on a back side of the chassis 1, and reproduces any one ofthe CDs that is selected from those received in the disk receiver 3. Theejecting means 8 is disposed on right and left sides on a back side ofthe disk receiver 3, and ejects the CD (in a process of ejection) towardthe conveying means 5. The operating means 9 are principally disposedoutside a left side plate 1 b and a right side plate 1 c of the chassis1, and operates the disk receiver 3, the reproducing means 7 and thelike.

[0105] The reproducing means 7 is constituted of a controlling means 11,a sandwiching means 14, a disk driving means 15, a pickup unit 16, arotary force supplying means 17, and a regulating means 18. Thecontrolling means 11 are disposed on both sides of a pickup lift base10, and forms spaces above and below (or upper and lower spaces for) theCD which is selected from a plurality of the CDs received in the diskreceiver 3. The sandwiching means 14 is constituted of a lower arm 13and an upper arm 12 which are rotatably disposed on the pickup lift base10. Moreover, the sandwiching means 14 intrudes into the upper and lowerspaces for sandwiching the selected CD. The disk driving means 15 ismounted on the lower arm 13, and turns the thus sandwiched CD. Thepickup unit 16 is mounted on the lower arm 13, and reads informationfrom the thus turned CD. The rotary force supplying means 17 supplies adriving force of the conveying means 5 to the sandwiching means 14 (forpivoting the sandwiching means 14), only in the reproduction mode forreproducing the CD, instead of the disk insertion-ejection mode. Theregulating means 18 regulates (sets up) time for allowing thesandwiching means 14 to sandwich the CD.

[0106] (B) Chassis

[0107] Described at first is the chassis 1. The chassis 1 is constitutedof the front plate 1 a, the left plate 1 b, the right side plate 1 c, aceiling plate 1 d, and a base plate 1 e. The back face of the chassis 1is open. The left side plate 1 b, the right side plate 1 c, and the baseplate 1 e are united.

[0108] (C) Disk Receiver

[0109] As is seen in FIG. 8(a), the disk receiver 3 is constituted ofsix trays 2 as disk carrying means, and a disk lift base 22 for carryingthe six trays 2. On the front side of the chassis 1, there are providedfour guide supports 23 extending vertically as supporting means. Each ofthe guide supports 23 has a first end coupled to the ceiling plate idand a second end coupled to the base plate 1 e.

[0110] As is seen in FIG. 9, the tray 2 is formed in such a manner thata resin 2 b (as guide member) attaches to an upper face on both sides ofa thin aluminum plate 2 a. Each resin 2 b is formed with a pair of along pin 2 c and a short pin 2 d protruding sideward. More specifically,the long pins 2 c is disposed on a middle section of the resin 2 b,while the short pin 2 d is disposed on a back section of the resin 2 b.Height of the resin 2 b is set substantially the same as thickness ofthe CD.

[0111] There is provided a plate spring 2 e which acts as a biasingmeans for sandwiching the CD between the plate spring 2 e and thealuminum plate 2 a. The plate spring 2 e has a front side which is fixedto an upper face of the resin 2 b. As is seen in FIG. 10, the platespring 2 e has a back side protruding inward which is formed with asuppress portion 2 f for suppressing the CD. Moreover, the plate spring2 e has a middle section formed with a receiving portion 2 g protrudingoutward which is suppressed downward by a lower face of a separating cam82 (to be described afterward). Moreover, there is formed a receivingportion 2 h for receiving an upward force which is caused by a lowerface of an upper mating portion 82 j (to be described afterward).Described hereinafter is a constitution of the suppress portion 2 f ofthe plate spring 2 e. The suppress portion 2 f is so bent as to becomeslightly higher than other portions around the suppress portion 2 f. Thesuppress portion 2 f is formed with a rib protrusion 2 m protrudingdownward to abut on an upper face of the CD. The suppress portion 2 fhas an inclined inside which is formed with a standing guide 2 n. Theguide 2 n can guide the CD to below the suppress portion 2 f, when theCD is pressed in on the tray 2. There are defined a pair of positioningportions 2 r on a back inside of a pair of the resins 2 b. Thepositioning portions 2 r abutting on the CD can determine a center ofthe CD. In case some causes may lift the backside of the plate-spring 2e such that the CD is put on the resin 2 b, the CD 171 is movableleftward in FIG. 11. As a result, the CD 171 cannot be positioned. Thus,there is provided an auxiliary positioning portion 2 p which is formedby bending downward the back end of the plate spring 2 e. There is alsoprovided an abutting portion 2 q abutting on the CD in such a manner asto protrude backward from the auxiliary positioning portion 2 p, thusdefining an R portion so as to prevent the plate spring 2 e fromdamaging the CD.

[0112] On both front side and back side of each of the resins 2 b, thereis defined a guide hole 2 i into which the guide support 23 penetrates.The guide hole 2 i extends through the resin 2 b and the aluminum plate2 a. In a portion abutting on an outer periphery of the CD on both sidesof the aluminum plate 2 a, there is provided a cushion material (notshown) which is attached circumferentially in a form of an arc. On bothsides of the resin 2 b of the uppermost tray 2, there is united acylindrical spring receiver 2 j, as is seen in FIG. 8(a). The springreceiver 2 j receives a coil spring 24 which acts as a biasing meansbetween the ceiling plate 1 d and the uppermost tray 2. As is seen inFIG. 8(b), the spring receiver 2 j has a lower end protruding slightlyinward as to form a receiver 2 k. The receiver 2 k receives a lower endof the coil spring 24. Even when a long spring involves a greatcompression length, the receiver 2 k can prevent compression load frombecoming too great.

[0113] On the other hand, the disk lift base 22 has a left end and aright end bent upward. The disk lift base 22 defines a horizontal areawhich is formed with a guide hole 22 a through which the guide support23 penetrates. Each of the left end and the right end of the disk liftbase 22 has a vertical outside which is formed with a pair of pins 22 bfor lifting the disk lift base 22. The pins 22 b are so fixed to thedisk lift base 22 as to protrude horizontally. The pair of the pins 22 bare inserted through respective two vertical slits 25 formed on each ofthe left side plate 1 b and the right side plate 1 c of the chassis 1.The pair of the pins 22 b protrude outward from the chassis 1.

[0114] With the guide support 23 inserted through the guide holes 22 aand the guide holes 2 i, the disk lift base 22 and the six trays 2 aresupported in such a manner as to move upward and downward. Moreover,there are provided four spring guides 26. Each spring guide 26 has anupper end fixed to the ceiling plate 1 d of the chassis 1, and a lowerend fixed to the base plate 1 e of the chassis 1. Each spring guide 26is inserted through the spring receiver 2 j. The coil spring 24 (asbiasing means) which is so disposed as to surround the spring guide 26has a lower end abutting on the receiver 2 k disposed at the lower endof the spring receiver 2 j.

[0115] (D) Conveying Means

[0116] As is seen in FIG. 7, the conveying means 5 is disposed on thefront plate 1 a of the chassis 1. The front plate 1 a is formed with theinsertion-ejection hole 4. A drive shaft 30 and a follower shaft 31 arerotatably supported in the insertion-ejection hole 4. Both ends of thedrive shaft 30 are mounted to the front plate 1 a. Both ends of thefollower shaft 31 are inserted into respective vertical long holes 32which are formed on side faces of the front plate 1 a. For supportingmiddle sections of the drive shaft 30 and the follower shaft 31, thefollowing measures are taken: As is seen in FIG. 12, a small diametersection in the middle of the drive shaft 30 rotatably mates with agroove 33 a which is formed on a back side of a resin bearing 33 whosedownward movement is restricted. Moreover, a small diameter section inthe middle of the follower shaft 31 rotatably mates with a groove 34 awhich is formed on a back side of a resin bearing 34. Hereinabove, theresin bearing 34 can move upward and downward freely by way of a pair ofguide protrusions (not shown) and a pair of guide grooves (not shown). Apair of rollers 35 made of resin mount to the follower shaft 31, while apair of rollers 36 made of rubber mount to the drive shaft 30. Retainrings (not shown) retain slide of the respective rollers 35 and rollers36 in a direction toward axial center.

[0117] Between the follower shaft 31 and the drive shaft 30, there isprovided a spring 38 for biasing the follower shaft 31 toward the driveshaft 30. A pair of the springs 38 are disposed outside the pair of therollers 35 and the pair of the rollers 36, and inside the left sideplate 1 b and the right side plate 1 c. As is seen in FIG. 15, thespring 38 is constituted of a pair of spring pieces 38 a. The springpiece 38 a has a torsion coil portion 38 b, a hook portion 38 c intowhich the drive shaft 30 is inserted, and a hook portion 38 d forhooking the follower shaft 31. Uniting the two hook portions 38 d toform a united spring piece 38 a can securely mount the spring 38 withoutinclination. A sleeve may be interposed between the hook portion 38 cand the drive shaft 30, and between the hook portion 38 d and thefollower shaft 31.

[0118] Described hereinafter is measures for driving the drive shaft 30.As is seen in FIG. 13, a gear 39 is fixed to a right end of the driveshaft 30. Inside the right side plate 1 c, there are provided a gear 40,a gear 41, a gear 42, and a gear 43 which are rotatably supported. Thegear 42 is integrated with the gear 43. Above the base plate le, thereare provided a worm gear 44 and a gear 45 which are rotatably supported.The worm gear 44 meshes with the gear 43, and integrates with the gear45. Moreover, a worm gear 47 is fixed to an output shaft of a conveyermotor 46 mounted to the base plate 1 e, and meshes with the gear 45.

[0119] As is seen in FIG. 12, there is provided a pressing means 48which automatically presses the CD by several millimeters after theroller 35 and roller 36 insert the CD. A set of three long guide holes,namely, a guide hole 49, a guide hole 50, and a guide hole 51 are formedhorizontally above and below the insertion-ejection hole 4 of the frontplate 1 a. On right and left side of back side of the front plate 1 a,there are provided a pair of slide bases 52. Three guide pins, namely, aguide pin 53, a guide pin 54, and a guide pin 55 are fixed to the slidebase 52, and irremovably inserted, respectively, into the guide hole 49,the guide hole 50, and the guide hole 51. On a back side of each of theslide bases 52, there is provided a longitudinal roller 57 which isrotatably supported by way of a vertical shaft 56. The longitudinalroller 57 acts as a pressing means and is made of resin. For biasing thepair of the slide bases 52 toward each other, there are providedpress-in springs 60 each of which is disposed between a spring hook 58and a spring hook 59. The spring hook 58 is formed on the front plate 1a, while the spring hook 59 is formed on the slide base 52.

[0120] A pair of the longitudinal rollers 57 act as a pressing means 48.In addition, the pair of the longitudinal rollers 57 position the CD(positioning means of the CD). As is seen in FIG. 16(b), on the backside between the base plate 1 e and the ceiling plate id, there areprovided a positioning rod 172 and a positioning rod 173. On the otherhand, as is seen in FIG. 12, there are provided a positioning rod 61 aand a positioning rod 62 a standing on the base plate 1 e. Moreover, apositioning rod 61 b is disposed on a line extending from thepositioning rod 61 a, while a positioning rod 62 b is disposed on a lineextending from the positioning rod 62 a. As a result, the CD can bepositioned at four points circumferentially.

[0121] On the other hand, for allowing insertion and ejection of the CD,a movable area is defined between the positioning rod 61 a and thepositioning rod 61 b and between the positioning rod 62 a and thepositioning rod 62 b. The CD in the movable area cannot be positioned bymeans of the positioning rod 61 a, the positioning rod 61 b, thepositioning rod 62 a, and the positioning rod 62 b. In this case, thepair of the longitudinal rollers 57 may replace the positioning rod 61a, the positioning rod 61 b, the positioning rod 62 a, and thepositioning rod 62 b. The CD moves upward and downward together with thedisk lift base 22. Therefore, as is seen in FIG. 17, the longitudinalroller 57 defines an upper end taper face 57 a and a lower end taperface 57 a for preventing the CD from interfering with the longitudinalroller 57.

[0122] (E) Opening-Closing Means

[0123] Described hereinafter is the opening-closing means 6 for openingand closing the insertion-ejection hole 4 of the front plate 1 a. As isseen in FIG. 7, on the front side of the front plate 1 a, there isprovided a shutter 64 in such a manner as to move upward and downward.The shutter 64 is formed with a hole 64 a for allowing the CD to passtherethrough. When the shutter 64 moves upward, a longitudinalintermediate position of the hole 64 a occupies a boundary (hereinafterreferred to as “insertion-ejection height”) between the roller 35 andthe roller 36, to thereby cause “open state.” Downward movement of theshutter 64 causes “closed state.”

[0124] A pair of guide pins 65 stand in upper and lower positions onright and left sides of the front plate 1 a, while the shutter 64 isformed with a pair of guide holes 64 b extending vertically. The guidepin 65 is inserted into the guide hole 64 b, and has a head end matingwith a retain ring. The pair of the guide pins 54 disposed in thevicinity of the center are longer than the guide pins 53 and the guidepins 55 so that the pair of the slide bases 52 can be largely spacedapart from each other only when the shutter 64 moves upward to “openstate.” The shutter 64 is formed with an L-shaped guide hole 64 c intowhich the guide pin 54 is inserted.

[0125] Hereinafter described is a link mechanism for opening and closingthe shutter 64. There is provided a right-left slide plate 66 having across section shaped substantially into an alphabetical L. Each of leftside and right side of the right-left slide plate 66 has a front faceand a lower face, each of which is formed with a long guide hole 66 aextending rightward and leftward. On the other hand, guide pins 67inserted into the guide holes 66 a are fixed, respectively, to the frontplate 1 aand the base plate 1 e. Lower ends on both sides of the shutter64 are formed with cam holes 64 e. Slide pins 66 b are fixedrespectively, to a right end and a left end on the front side of theright-left slide plate 66. The slide pin 66 b is inserted into the camhole 64 e. As is seen in FIG. 31(b), a lower face of the right-leftslide plate 66 is formed with a spring hook 66 c protruding downward,while a lower face of the base plate le is formed with a spring hook 68protruding downward. A return spring 69 is hooked between the springhook 66 c and the spring hook 68. On a left lower face of the base plate1 e, there is provided a forward-backward slide plate 70 moving forwardand backward. More specifically, the forward-backward slide plate 70 isformed with a pair of guide holes 70 a, while a headed pin (not shown)inserted into the guide hole 70 a is fixed to the base plate 1 e. As isseen in FIG. 12, there is provided a substantially L-shaped lever 72having a bent section which is rotatably mounted to the lower face ofthe base plate 1 e by way of a stationary shaft 73. The lever 72 hashead ends formed respectively with long holes 72 a. A pin 66 d fixed tothe right-left slide plate 66 mates with one of the long holes 72defining therebetween a play, while a pin 70 b fixed to theforward-backward slide plate 70 mates with the other of the long holes72 defining therebetween a play. The forward-backward slide plate 70 isformed with a pressed portion 70 c which is pressed by means of theouter slider 140 (to be described afterward).

[0126] (F) Reproducing Means

[0127] The reproducing means 7 is disposed in the vicinity of the backof the disk receiver 3 such that the disk player can be as small aspossible in length. As is seen in FIG. 7, the sandwiching means 14 ofthe reproducing means 7 is mounted on the pickup lift base 10.Therefore, hereinafter described at first is the pickup lift base 10.

[0128] The pickup lift base 10 has a horizontal plate and verticalplates which are united on both sides of the horizontal plate. Thehorizontal plate has a front side which is formed with a cutout 10 ashaped into a circular arc for receiving the CD. For moving the pickuplift base 10 upward and downward, a pair of pins 77 are fixed to each ofthe vertical plates in such a manner as to protrude horizontally. Thepair of the pins 77 are disposed equal in height, and are shorter thanthe pair of the pins 22 b of the disk lift base 22. The pins 77 areinserted into a pair of vertical slits 78 formed on each of the leftside plate 1 b and the right side plate 1 c of the chassis 1, therebyprotruding outward from the chassis 1.

[0129] (1) Controlling Means

[0130] As is seen in FIG. 7, there are provided separating cams 82 madeof resin, which act as the controlling means 11. The separating cams 82are disposed inside both vertical plates of the pickup left base 10 insuch a manner as to move forward and backward. Moreover, the separatingcams 82 are inserted into between adjacent trays 2 stacked upward anddownward, to thereby form spaces above and below the CD (hereinaftersuch CD is referred to as “selected CD”). Moreover, the separating cams82 control operations of inserting, ejecting and supporting the disk.Namely, an upper-front section of the vertical plate of the pickup liftbase 10 is formed with a guide hole 10 e, and a headed guide pin 82 ainserted into the guide hole 10 e is fixed to the separating cam 82. Onthe other hand, a guide hole 82 b is formed on a lower section of theseparating cam 82 as is seen in FIG. 8(a), and a headed guide pin 10 binserted into the guide hole 82 b is fixed in an intermediate position[forward-backward] of the vertical plate of the pickup lift base 10.

[0131] The separating cams 82 are inserted toward the trays 2. Then, theseparating cams 82 lift four pins (namely, two long pins 2 c and twoshort pins 2 d) on both sides of the tray 2, to thereby securely supportthe tray 2. Moreover, the separating cams 82 form spaces above and belowthe tray 2 that carries the CD to be reproduced. The separating cam 82is formed of two laminated plates which are different inforward-backward length and formed with respective slits. Sliding theseparating cams 82 to both sides of the tray 2 allows front section (ofthe separating cams 82) to move upward the pair of the long pins 2 c ofthe tray 2, and allows back section (of the separating cams 82) to moveupward the pair of the short pins 2 d of the tray 2.

[0132] More specifically, as is seen in FIG. 35, there are formed a pairof first separating controllers 82 c 1 for moving upward the “selectedtray 2 (for carrying the selected CD)” as well as the tray(s) 2 whichis(are) disposed higher than the “selected tray 2.” Above each of thefirst separating controllers 82 c 1, there is also provided a secondseparating controller 82 c 2 for moving upward the tray(s) 2 whichis(are) disposed higher than the “selected tray 2.” Between the firstseparating controller 82 c 1 and the second separating controller 82 c2, there is formed a third separating controller 82 d for holding onlythe selected tray 2. The first separating controllers 82 c 1, the secondseparating controllers 82 c 2, and the third separating controllers 82 dconstitute a separating controller. An upper face 82 f and a lower face82 h are formed in a direction of the separating cam 82's movement. Theupper faces 82 f maintain positions of the long pin 2 c and the shortpin 2 dof the tray 2 that is disposed higher than the selected tray 2.The lower faces 82 h maintain positions of the long pin 2 c and theshort pin 2 d of the tray 2 that is disposed lower than the selectedtray 2. Moreover, the lower faces 82 h act as a position restrictingmeans for suppressing the receiving portion 2 g of the plate spring 2 e.

[0133] Progression of the first separating controllers 82 c 1 and thesecond separating controllers 82 c 2 moves upward the long pins 2 c andthe short pins 2 d of the selected tray 2 and the tray(s) 2 which isdisposed higher than the selected tray 2. Therefore, an angle θ is setat 45° and the like (constant). Herein, however, the trays 2 are movedupward with the coil spring 24 compressed. The higher the tray 2 is, themore compressed the coil spring 24 is. This increases a load which isapplied when the tray 2 is moved upward. In other words, during theinitial period of compression of the coil spring 24, the load is small.Therefore, as is seen in FIG. 35(a), the first separating controller 82c 1 (upper) defines angle, for example, angle θ1=45°, while the secondseparating controller 82 c 2 (lower) defines, for example, angle θ2=60°.With θ1=45° and θ2=60°, a middle section between the angle θ1 and theangle θ2 can be formed into a circular arc, to thereby make the loadconstant.

[0134] Described hereinafter is the third separating controllers 82 d,82 d. The third separating controllers 82 d, 82 d are constituted of theupper mating portions 82 j, 82 j, middle mating portions 82 k, 82 k asdownward controlling section, and lower mating portions 82 m, 82 m. Theupper mating portions 82 k, 82 j form spaces above and below theselected tray 2. The middle mating portions 82 k, 82 k drop the selectedtray 2 together with the selected CD, so as to put the selected CD on aturn table 97 of the lower arm 13. The lower mating portions 82 m, 82 mdrop again the selected tray 2 only, to thereby separate the selectedtray 2 from the selected CD.

[0135] (2) Sandwiching Means

[0136] Hereinafter described is the sandwiching means 14 for turning theselected CD toward the spaces (above and below the CD) formed by thecontrolling means 11, so as to sandwich the selected CD. Base ends ofthe lower arm 13 and the upper arm 12 are rotatably mounted on the leftside of the pickup lift base 10. More specifically described as follows:As is seen in FIG. 19, a substantially lower end of a hollow shaft 86 isfixed to the lower arm 13. The lower end of the hollow shaft 86rotatably penetrates through the pickup lift base 10. For retaining thehollow shaft 86, a flat washer 93 and a retain ring 94 are mounted tothe lower end of the hollow shaft 86. A sleeve 87 made of copper alloyfixedly penetrates through the base end of the upper arm 12. The sleeve87 penetrating through the hollow shaft 86 drops the selected CD forsandwiching the selected CD, with the lower arm 13 parallel to the upperarm 12. An upper end of the hollow shaft 86 fitted with a retain ringpenetrates through a flat washer 88. Between the flat washer 88 and thesleeve 87, there is provided a hold spring 89 for biasing the upper arm12 downward. Moreover, as is seen in FIG. 18, a slide pin 90 standing onthe lower arm 13 penetrates through a hole 91 formed on the upper arm 12so that the lower arm 13 and the upper arm 12 can make a synchronizedand united revolution, instead of relative revolution. A support 92standing on the base plate 1 e penetrates through the hollow shaft 86disposed on the pickup lift base 10, so as to improve accuracy ofpositioning the turn table 97 (to be described afterward) on the lowerarm 13 relative to the CD when turning the sandwiching means 14.

[0137] As is seen in FIG. 20, during a period when CD is not reproduced,the sandwiching means 14 protrudes backward by a dimension J from thepickup left base 10 and from the chassis 1. The protrusion of thesandwiching means 14 appears to be a shift (by dimension J) of thesandwiching means 14 from its original position to left in FIG. 20(backward). As a matter of fact, however, the chassis 1 is reduced insize by the dimension J for the following cause: The disk player ispreferred as small as possible in backward length, since the disk playeris to be received in a space defined in a dashboard in the vehicle. Onthe other hand, the vibration caused by vehicle travel is to beprevented from being transmitted to the disk player during a period whenthe CD is reproduced, which requires defining a gap between the chassis1 and an inner wall (K) (of a case 177) for supporting floatably thechassis 1 in the case 177 via a spring (relaxation means). Duringnon-reproduction period of the CD, however, the above gap between thechassis 1 and the inner wall (of the case 177) is not a must.

[0138] Thereby, as is seen in FIG. 46, the sandwiching means 14 moves toa position A during reproduction period of the CD, causing a gap Jbetween an inner wall K (of the case 177) and the chassis 1. Contrary tothis, as is seen in FIG. 45, the sandwiching means 14 comes back to aposition B during non-reproduction period of the CD, to thereby allowabutment of the inner wall K (of the case 177) on the chassis 1 (infact, abutment on the sandwiching means 14 only). More specificallydescribed as follows: Irrespective of reproduction period ornon-reproduction period of the CD, the chassis 1 is so formed originallyas to reach the inner wall K where the sandwiching means 14 isconcealed, as is seen in FIG. 20. Therefore, it was necessary fordefining a gap M to form an inner wall L that is assumedly disposedoutside the inner wall K. However, it is only during the reproduction ofthe CD when the gap J is required. In other words, the original innerwall L can be shifted to the inner wall K. The above summarizes that thecase 177 can be reduced by a dimension M, to thereby diminish the spaceoccupied by the dashboard. The thus diminished space can be smaller thanthe conventional one.

[0139] (3) Disk Driving Means

[0140] There is provided the disk driving means 15 on an upper head faceof the lower arm 13. More specifically, as is seen in FIG. 18, there isprovided a spindle motor 96 having an output shaft. The turn table 97engaging in a center hole of the CD is mounted to the output shaft ofthe spindle motor 96. On the other hand, as is seen in FIG. 49, a firstend of a support plate 98 is fixed in the vicinity of a head end of theupper arm 12, while a second end of the support plate 98 is formed witha circular hole. Moreover, a chuck plate 99 made of resin rotatablymates in the hole from upward position. The chuck plate 99 acts as adisk holding means, and is formed with a rib protrusioncircumferentially below a circular plate. There is provided a springplate (not shown) having a first end fixed to a lower face of the upperarm 12, and a second end retaining the chuck plate 99. The CD is held bymeans of the turn table 97 and the chuck plate 99.

[0141] (4) Pickup Unit

[0142] The pickup unit 16 is installed on the upper face of the lowerarm 13, as is seen in FIG. 20. Described hereinafter is constitution ofthe pickup unit 16. An optical pickup 162 is movably disposed in alongitudinal direction of the lower arm 13 by way of a guide rail 161which is united with the lower arm 13. There is provided a means formoving the optical pickup 162 (round trip) along the guide rail 161. Ascrew shaft 164 is rotatably supported on the upper face of the lowerarm 13 by way of a pair of bearing members 163, while a female screw(not shown) of the optical pickup 162 screws down on the screw shaft164. The screw shaft 164 interlocks with an output shaft of a scan motor165 which is fixed in the vicinity of the sleeve 87. More specifically,a gear 168 constituted of a worm wheel 166 united with a screw gear 167is rotatably supported, and a worm gear 169 of the output shaft (of thescan motor 165) meshes with the worm wheel 166. On the other hand, ascrew gear 170 mounted to the screw shaft 164 meshes with the screw gear167.

[0143] (5) Rotary Force Supplying Means

[0144] Hereinafter described is constitution of the rotary forcesupplying means 17 for turning the sandwiching means 14 by the drivingforce of the conveyer motor 46. Inside the left side plate 1 b of thechassis 1, there is provided a gear row 103, as is seen in FIG. 13. Morespecifically, the gear row 103 is constituted of a gear 103 a, a gear103 b, a gear 103 c, a gear 103 d, a gear 103 e, a gear 103 f, a gear103 g, and a gear 103 h. On the other hand, a gear 104 is fixed to aleft end of the drive shaft 30. Inside the left side plate 1 b, there isprovided a plate 105 in such a manner as to move vertically. Morespecifically, an upper section of the plate 105 is formed with a guidehole 105 a. A guide pin 106 (refer to FIG. 43) inserted into the guidehole 105 a is fixed to the left side plate 1 b, and is fitted with aretain ring. A lower section of the plate 105 is formed with a springhook 105 b, while the base plate 1 e of the chassis 1 is formed with aspring hook 107. Between the spring hook 105 b and the spring hook 107,there is provided a return spring 108 for biasing the plate 105downward. The plate 105 is formed with a relief hole 105 c for a shaft109 of the gear 103 h to penetrate through. The shaft 109 is fixed tothe left side plate 1 b. A base end section of a lever 110 is rotatablymounted to the shaft 109. A transitional shaft 111 is fixed to a headend of the lever 110 in such a manner as to penetrate through the lever110. A gear 112 meshing with the gear 103 h rotatably mounts to thetransitional shaft 111. The plate 105 is also formed with a cam hole 105d which is disposed above the relief hole 105 c. An end of thetransitional shaft 111 penetrates through the cam hole 105 d. Moving theplate 150 upward moves the cam hole 105 d upward, to thereby move thetransitional shaft 111 (through the cam hole 105 d) toward the frontface. With this, the gear 112 mounted to the transitional shaft 111meshes also with the gear 104 of the drive shaft 30. For moving theplate 105 upward, a middle section of a lever 113 is pivotally supportedto inside of the left side plate 1 b by way of a pin 114, while a firstend of the lever 113 is pivotally coupled to a lower section of theplate 105 by way of a pin 115. A second end of the lever 113 faces alower portion of one (that is disposed on the front side) of the pair ofguide holes 25 of the left side plate 1 b through which the pins 22 b ofthe disk lift base 22 are inserted. In other words, in the reproductionmode of the CD when the disk lift base 22 in its lowest position, thepin 22 b presses downward the second end of the lever 113, so that thegear 112 can mesh with the gear 104.

[0145] The gear 103 a that is disposed highest in the gear row 103interlocks with the lower arm 13 of the sandwiching means 14 in thefollowing manner: As is seen in FIG. 7, there is provided a slide bar116 which is constituted of a long vertical section extending forwardand backward, and a horizontal section which is united with a back sideof the vertical section. A pair of guide holes 116 a are formed in thevicinity of both ends of the vertical section of the slide bar 116. Asis seen in FIG. 12, a pair of guide pins 117 fixed inside the left sideplate 1 b are inserted, respectively, into the pair of the guide holes116 a. Each of the guide pins 117 is fitted with a retain ring. Theslide bar 116 which is thus slidable forward and backward has a frontlower section formed with a rack 116 b. The rack 116 b meshes with thegear 103 a. Moreover, an engagement pin 116 c protruding downwarddefines an upper end which is fixed to a head end of the horizontalsection disposed on the back side of the slide bar 116. As is seen inFIG. 18, the engagement pin 116 c engages with a long hole 13 a definingtherebetween a play. The long hole 13 a is formed in a horizontalsection of the lower arm 13. Herein, horizontal section is united with abase end section of the lower arm 13, and extends vertically as high asthe upper arm 12. As is seen in FIG. 20, the long hole 13 a is formedalong a line which extends in such a manner as to pass through an axialcenter of the sleeve 87 and which extends radially in such a manner asto form orthogonality relative to the sleeve 87.

[0146] (6) Arm Positioning Means

[0147] The disk player has two operation states, one is theinsertion-ejection mode for inserting the CD into the disk receiver 3and ejecting the CD from the disk receiver 3, the other is thereproduction mode for reproducing the CD. In the insertion-ejectionmode, the sandwiching means 14 occupies the position B, as is seen inFIG. 45. In the reproduction mode, the sandwiching means 14 occupies theposition A, as is seen in FIG. 46. The sandwiching means 14 is turnedbetween the position B and the position A by way of the rotary forcesupplying means 17, as described above. For effecting more accuratepositioning of the CD relative to the turn table 97 (on the lower arm13), however, there is provided a positioning means 118, as is seen inFIG. 22.

[0148] Hereinafter described is constitution of the positioning means118. As is seen in FIG. 20 and FIG. 22, an upper end of a positioningpin 119 protruding downward is fixed in the vicinity of the hollow shaft86 on the lower arm 13. On the other hand, the pickup lift base 10 isformed with an arc hole 10 c corresponding to a movable area defined bythe positioning pin 119 when the positioning pin 119 is moved inaccordance with pivotal movement of the sandwiching means 14. Thepositioning pin 119 mates with the arc hole 10 c defining therebetween aplay. The pickup lift base 10 is formed with a spring hook portion 10 dprotruding downward. A toggle spring 120 has both ends hookingrespectively with the spring hook portion 10 d and the positioning pin119. Herein, the positioning pin 119 occupies a position b and positiona when the sandwiching means 14 occupies, respectively the position Band the position A. In this case, a position c disposed in the middlebetween the position b and the position a can be defined as a changepoint for changing direction of movement of the positioning pin 119. Thespring hook portion 10 d is disposed in a position corresponding to theposition c.

[0149] (7) Arm Locking Means

[0150] During the period when the CD is not reproduced, vibrationattributable to the traveling vehicle may cause the sandwiching means 14to jump out of the position B (position for receiving the sandwichingmeans 14 constituting the reproducing means 7) in FIG. 18. Therefore,there is provided an arm locking means for locking the sandwiching means14 in the position B. Hereinafter described is constitution of the armlocking means. As is seen in FIG. 18, the head end of the lower arm 13extends long along the circular arc cutout 10 a of the pickup lift base10. At the head end of the lower arm 13, there is formed an engagementportion 13 b standing upward.

[0151] On the other hand, there is provided a lock member 174 forlocking the lower arm 13 in such a manner as to abut on the engagementportion 13 b. As is seen in FIG. 24, a pair of headed pins 175 areinserted into a long hole 174 a which is formed in the lock member 174,to thereby couple the lock member 174 to the pickup lift base 10. Thus,the lock member 174 is disposed in such a manner as to slide rightwardand leftward, forming orthogonality relative to sliding direction of theseparating cam 82. The lock member 174 is formed with a lock portion 174b (abutting on the engagement portion 13 b) and a spring hook 174 c.Between the spring hook 174 c and a spring hook 10 f (on the pickup liftbase 10), there is provided a spring 176. The spring 176 acts as areturning means for biasing the lock 174 b in a direction away from theengagement portion 13 b. Moreover, there is provided an ejectionmechanism for ejecting the lock portion 174 b toward the engagementportion 13 b, opposing the biasing force by the spring 176. As a drivingmeans for driving the lock member 174, the separating cam 82 (as thecontrolling means 11) is utilized. Opposing the separating cam 82, thelock member 174 has a section which is formed with a taper portion 174 dand a slide portion 174 e standing in a form of an alphabetical L. Ofthe pair of the right and left separating cams 82 as is seen in FIG. 7,the right separating cam 82 is formed with a dent portion 82 t forreceiving the taper portion 174 d and the slide portion 174 e. Moreover,an inner wall of the dent portion 82 t is formed with a taper face 82 u.

[0152] (8) CD Positioning Means

[0153] Positioning of the CD relative to the chassis 1 is effected byfour positioning rods (FIG. 16) disposed circumferentially, as describedabove. On the other hand, for positioning the CD relative to the turntable 97, there is formed a CD positioner 13 c, as is seen in FIG. 18.More specifically, the CD positioner 13 c is disposed at a raisedsection on the base end side of the lower arm 13 (mounting the turntable 97) in such a manner as to form substantially orthogonality to ahorizontal face of the pickup lift base 10. As is seen in FIG. 21, theCD 171 is positioned as the CD 171 lowers along an inclined face 97 b ofa cone frustum 97 a which is formed on the turn table 97. The CDpositioner 13 c is determined such that a slight gap can be definedbetween the CD 171 and the CD positioner 13 c when the CD is securelymounted. The CD positioner 13 c has an outer face which is in a form ofan arc R, so as not to damage the CD.

[0154] (9) Regulating Means

[0155] The upper arm 12 of the sandwiching means 14 is biased downwardwith the hold spring 89. As is seen in FIG. 18, there is provided theregulating means 18 for regulating timing when the biasing force of thehold spring 89 lowers the upper arm 12. More specifically describedbelow.

[0156] On the upper face of the pickup lift base 10, there is provided acylindrical plate 124 standing between the sandwiching means 14 and theseparating cam 82. The cylindrical plate 124 is formed with a part ofcylinder around the sleeve 87. As is seen in FIG. 47 and FIG. 48, thecylindrical plate 124 is formed with an alphabetically L-shaped guidehole 125 which is constituted of a horizontal portion 125 a extendingcircumferentially and a vertical portion 125 b extending axially. On theother hand, a guide pin 12 a is fixed to the base end of the upper arm12, in such a manner as to protrude radially outward around the sleeve87. The guide pin 12 a is inserted into the guide hole 125. As is seenin FIG. 18, when the sandwiching means 14 occupies the position B(standby position) and when the sandwiching means 14 moves from theposition B to being on the eve of occupying the position A (reproductionposition), the guide pin 12 a is positioned in the horizontal portion125 a of the guide hole 125. Thus, applying the biasing force of thehold spring 89 may not lower the upper arm 12, thereby keeping thesandwiching means 14 open. On the other hand, when the sandwiching means14 reaches the position A, the guide pin 12 a is positioned in thevertical portion 125 b. Thus, applying the biasing force of the holespring 89 may lower the upper arm 12, thereby lowering the guide pin 12a to the lower end of the vertical portion 125 b.

[0157] There are provided a first regulating means and a secondregulating means. The first regulating means temporarily regulatesdownward movement of the guide pin 12 a such that the sandwiching means14 does not carry out sandwiching operation until receiving aninstruction. In other words, the first regulating means prevents thesandwiching means 14 from carrying out the sandwiching operation soonafter the guide pin 12 a pivotally reaches the vertical portion 125 b ofthe guide hole 125 when the sandwiching means 14 pivotally reaches theposition A in FIG. 18. On the other hand, the second regulating meansallows the separating cam 82 to move forward after the regulation,thereby lowering the selected CD and the selected tray 2. Then, when theselected CD is put on the turn table 97, the second regulating meanscancels the regulation, to thereby sandwich the selected CD. Morespecifically described as follows concerning constitution of the firstregulating means and the second regulating means. Between thecylindrical plate 124 and the separating cam 82 on the pickup lift base10, there is provided a bearing plate 126 standing parallel to theseparating cam 82, as is seen in FIG. 18 and FIG. 45. Inside the bearingplate 126, middle section of a constraint lever 127 is rotatablysupported by way of a rotary shaft 129. A pin 127 a protruding outwardis fixed to a front side of the constraint lever 127. Back side of theconstraint lever 127 is so bent inward as to face the vertical portion125 b of the guide hole 125. As is seen in FIG. 45, there is provided aspring 128 for biasing downward the back side of the constraint lever127. On the other hand, the pin 127 a on the front side of theconstraint lever 127 mates with a cam groove 82 r (formed on insidelower section of the separating cam 82) defining therebetween a play, asis seen in FIG. 47. The cam groove 82 r is disposed only on the leftseparating cam 82 of the pair of the right and left separating cams 82.There is formed a relief section on upper back side of the cam groove 82r. More specifically, the relief section is constituted such that whenthe separating cam 82 moves forward and thereby the long pin 2 c and theshort pin 2 d of the selected tray 2 mate with the respective middlemating portions 82 k and 82 k, the pin 127 a can be moved to the reliefsection of the cam groove 82 r. Thus, the constraint lever 127 is turnedby means of the spring 128. Then, the hold spring 89 biases the upperarm 12 downward.

[0158] (G) Ejecting Means

[0159] As is seen in FIG. 33, a pair of the ejecting means 8 aredisposed respectively on right side and left side in the chassis 1.Disposing the ejecting means 8 pairwise is attributable to the followingcauses: Firstly, when the to-be-ejected CD coexists with any other upperand/or lower CD(s), a lever having small height is to be used forejecting only the to-be-ejected CD without causing interference with theother CD(s). Secondly, the biasing force of the pair of the platesprings 2 e toward the tray 2 is responsible for vertical positioning ofthe CD. Some small external force may incline the CD, opposing thebiasing force of the plate springs 2. Therefore, only a single ejectingmeans 8 may fail to abut on the CD. For securing abutment on the CD, theejecting means 8 are disposed pairwise.

[0160] The pair of the right ejecting means and the left ejecting meansare substantially the same in constitution. Therefore, the followingdescription is only one of the pair of the ejecting means. As is seen inFIG. 6 and FIG. 33, an ejector lever 132 for pivotally ejecting the CDis pivotally mounted to a stationary shaft 133 protruding downward fromthe ceiling plate 1 d of the chassis 1. The ejector lever 132 is set ata height defined between the roller 35 and the roller 36, namelyinsertion-ejection height. Moreover, there is provided a return spring134 having a first end hooked with a spring hook 132 a formed on theejector lever 132, and a second end hooked with a spring hook formed onthe ceiling plate 1 d.

[0161] On the other hand, the ejector lever 132 is so constituted as topivot by moving the separating cam 82 backward, opposite to forwardmovement of the separating cam 82 for forming the space as describedabove. More specifically described as follows. As is seen in FIG. 18,outside the bearing plate 126, there is provided a plate 135 in such amanner as to slide forward and backward at a predetermined distance. Inother words, the bearing plate 126 is formed with a pair of guide holes126 a, while a pair of guide pins 135 a inserted into the respectiveguide holes 126 a are fixed to the plate 135. Front end of the plate 135is bent inward in such a manner as to engage with a pressed area 132 bwhich is united with the ejector lever 132. Back end of the plate 135 isbent outward in such a manner as to face the back of the separating cam82.

[0162] (H) Operating Means

[0163] Hereinafter described finally is the operating means 9. In theinsertion-ejection mode, the operating means 9 allows insertion-ejectionof the CD on the tray 2 on each stage by moving upward and downward thedisk lift base 22. Moreover in the insertion-ejection mode, theoperating means 9 opens the opening-closing means 6 and operates theejecting means 8. In the reproduction mode, the operating means 9 movesupward and downward the pickup lift base 10 so as to select the selectedCD, with the disk lift base 22 kept in the lowermost position. Moreoverin the reproduction mode, the operating means 9 operates the controllingmeans 11, and operates the regulating means 18.

[0164] As is seen in FIG. 7 and FIG. 25, outside the left side plate 1 band the right side plate 1 c of the chassis 1, there are provided aninner slider 139 and an outer slider 140 which are slidable forward andbackward. Since the left side plate 1 b and the right side plate 1 c aresymmetrical, the following description is only one of the left sideplate 1 b and the right side plate 1 c. Outer face of the outer slider140 is formed with a pair of locked portions 210 (pins) of the lockmechanism 204. As described above, the pair of the locked portions 210(pins) are inserted respectively into a pair of the locking portions 211disposed in the first plate 205.

[0165] In the above description, the inner slider 139 has an uppersection and a lower section formed respectively with guide holes 139 a,while the outer slider 140 has an upper section and a lower sectionformed respectively with guide holes 140 a. A guide pin 158 and a guidepin 159 are inserted into both the guide hole 139 a and the guide hole140 a. The guide pin 158 and the guide pin 159 are fitted with retainrings. Back side of the inner slider 139 is formed with a pair ofstepwise slits 141 for moving at six steps upward and downward the pairof the pins 77 (of the pickup lift base 10) protruding through thevertical slits 78. Front side of the inner slider 139 is formed with apair of stepwise slits 142 for moving at six steps upward and downwardthe pair of the pins 22 b (of the disk lift base 22) protruding throughthe vertical slits 25. Below each of the stepwise slits 142, there isprovided a floor slit 143 which is continuous with the stepwise slit142. In the reproduction mode, the floor slit 143 keeps the disk liftbase 22 in the lowermost position, and moves only the pickup lift base10 upward and downward. On the other hand, the outer slider 140 isformed only with slits for receiving the pair of the pins 22 b (longpin) of the disk lift base 22. More specifically, the outer slider 140is formed with a pair of insertion-ejection mode slits 144, a pair ofreproduction mode slits 145, and a pair of switch slits 146. Theinsertion-ejection mode slits 144 are substantially square, and moveupward and downward the pair of the pins 22 b which are allowed in thestepwise slits 142. The reproduction mode slits 145 are substantiallyhorizontal, and keep in the lowermost position the pair of the pins 22 bwhich are allowed in the floor slits 143. The switch slits 146 areinclined at 45°. Each of the switch slits 146 has a lower taper face 146a and an upper taper face 146 b for moving upward and downward the pin22 b with the outer slider 140 moved horizontally. The thus moved pairof the pins 22 b change positions between the pair of the stepwise slits142 and the pair of the floor slits 143. The insertion-ejection modeslit 144, the switch slit 146, and the reproduction mode slit 145 areformed continuously. Leveling one reproduction mode slit 145 with theother reproduction mode slit 145 may overlap the two reproduction modeslits 145. Thus, the following pairwise slits and pairwise pins aredifferent in height from each other: the reproduction mode slits 145,the insertion-ejection mode slits 144, the floor slits 143, the stepwiseslits 142, and the pins 22 b (to be inserted into the reproduction modeslits 145, the insertion-ejection mode slits 144, the floor slits 143,and the stepwise slits 142).

[0166] Back upper portion of the outer slider 140 is bent inwardorthogonally, to thereby form a protrusion 140 b. Back portions of theinner slider 139 and the left side plate 1 b are, respectively, formedwith a relief cutout 139 b and a relief slit 147, so as to allowmovement of the protrusion 140 b together with the outer slider 140. Asis seen in FIG. 7, an engagement groove 82 s extends vertically outsidethe back portion of the separating cam 82 and the protrusion 140 bslidably mates with the engagement groove 82 s, so as to allow theseparating cam 82 to slide integrally with the outer slider 140irrespective of height of the separating cam 82 which moves upward anddownward together with the pickup lift base 10. Moreover, on the frontside of the outer slider 140 disposed on the left side, there is formedan engagement portion 140 c which is bent toward below the base plate 1e of the chassis 1. The engagement portion 140 c presses the pressedportion 70 c when the outer slider 140 slides backward, to thereby openthe shutter 64 opposing the biasing force of the return spring 69.

[0167] Described hereinafter is a driving mechanism for allowingsynchronous sliding operations of the right inner slider 139 with theleft inner slider 139 as well as the right outer slider 140 with theleft outer slider 140. As is seen in FIG. 7 and FIG. 13, on the backside below the base plate 1 e of the chassis 1, a connector shaft 148and a connector shaft 149 are rotatably supported by way of two pairs ofbearings. The connector shaft 148 has both ends fixed with pinions 150,while the connector shaft 149 has both ends fixed with pinions 151. Thepinion 150 meshes with a rack 139 c which is formed at a lower backportion of the inner slider 139, while the pinion 151 meshes with a rack140 d which is formed at a lower back portion of the outer slider 140. Agear 152 is fixed to the connector shaft 148, while a gear 153 is fixedto the connector shaft 149. Moreover, the gear 152 is interlocked withan operation motor 154, while the gear 153 is interlocked with anoperation motor 155. More specifically described as follows: Theoperation motor 154 is disposed at lower inside of the bearing plate 126which is disposed on the right back side of the chassis 1, while theoperation motor 155 is disposed at upper inside of the bearing plate126. The operation motor 154 has an output shaft which is interlockedwith the gear 152 by way of a decelerating means 156 disposed inside thebearing plate 126, while the operation motor 155 has an output shaftwhich is interlocked with the gear 153 by way of a decelerating means157 disposed inside the bearing plate 126.

[0168] Described hereinafter is operation of the disk player.

[0169] (I) Overall Constitution of Operation

[0170] Operations of the disk player include what is calledinsertion-ejection mode and what is called reproduction mode. Morespecifically, the insertion-ejection mode includes inserting the CD intothe disk receiver 3 and ejecting the CD from the disk receiver 3, whilethe reproduction mode reproduces one CD that is selected from aplurality of the CDs received in the disk receiver 3 as stock.Hereinafter described are above three operations.

[0171] (J) Insert CD (Insertion-Ejection Mode)

[0172] Inserting the CD into the disk receiver 3 takes the followingsteps: Select one of the numbers which are respectively assigned to thetrays 2 in a manner from 1 to 6 downward. For example, select “2”. Then,press a button “2” (not shown). Then, press an insertion button (notshown). Rotation of the output shaft of the operation motor 154 isconveyed to the decelerating means 156 and then to the connector shaft148, allowing sliding movement of the pair of the inner sliders 139.Independently of the inner sliders 139, rotation of the output shaft ofthe operation motor 155 is conveyed to the decelerating means 157 andthen to the connector shaft 149, allowing sliding movement of the pairof the outer sliders 140. The pair of the pins 22 b are insertedrespectively into the pair of the insertion-ejection model slits 144 ofthe outer slider 140. Pressing the button when the pair of the pins 22 bare, for example, in a mode switching position in the diskinsertion-ejection mode as is seen in FIG. 26(a) will move the innersliders 139 backward. Thereby, as is seen in FIG. 27(a), the pair of thepins 22 b move upward to the second lowest step of the respectivestepwise slits 142. Together with the movement of the pins 22 b, thedisk lift base 22 also moves upward such that the CD on the seconduppermost tray 2 is set at the insertion-ejection height. At this pointin time, the pickup lift base 10 shows simultaneous upward movement,although it is an unnecessary movement. Allowing further backwardmovement of the inner sliders 139 moves the pickup lift base 10 upwardtogether with the pins 22 b, such that the trays 2 in order ofprecedence (namely, third, fourth, fifth and sixth) reach theinsertion-ejection height.

[0173] In the standby position as is seen in FIG. 26(a), the lockedportion 210 of the lock mechanism 204 is disposed in a location A in thelock groove 212 of the locking portion 211, as is seen in FIG. 26(b).

[0174] Then, allowing backward movement of the outer slider 140 to suchan extent that the pin 22 b comes to the middle position(forward-backward direction) in the insertion-ejection slit 144 from astandby position as is seen in FIG. 27(a) will cause the engagementportion 140 c of the outer slider 140 to press the pressed portion 70 cin FIG. 7 backward below the base plate 1 e. Thereby, movement of theforward-backward slide plate 70 is conveyed to the right-left side plate66 by way of the lever 72, to thereby move the right-left slide plate 66leftward opposing the biasing force of the return spring 69. This movesthe shutter 64 upward, to thereby open the insertion-ejection hole 4, asis seen in FIG. 31(b). The above backward movement of the outer slider140 causes the locked portion 210 of the lock mechanism 204 to move to alocation B of the lock groove 212, as is seen in FIG. 26(b).

[0175] As a result, the above movement opens the shutter 64. Asdescribed above, the second uppermost tray 2 has been disposed at theinsertion-ejection height. Therefore, inserting the CD 171 into betweenthe roller 35 and the roller 36 as is seen in FIG. 31(a) causes a sensor(not shown) disposed in the center nearside the shutter 64 to sense theCD 171, to thereby start the conveyer motor 46 for rotation. Rotaryforce of the conveyer rotor 46 is conveyed to the roller 36 by way ofthe gears, to thereby mesh the CD 171 into between the roller 35 (whichis biased toward the roller 36 by means of the spring 38) and the roller36, as is seen in FIG. 32. Rotations of the roller 35 and the roller 36send the CD 171 on the second uppermost tray 2 to such an extent thatthe CD 171 is just spaced apart from the roller 35 and the roller 36,leaving several millimeters for the CD 171 to go inward. Then, the pairof the longitudinal rollers 57 biased toward center by means of thepress-in springs 60 press the CD 171 by the above several millimeters.The CD 171 is retained on the tray 2 by the suppress portions 2 f of thepair of the plate springs 2 e. Once the CD 171 is spaced apart from theroller 35 and the roller 36, a limit switch (not shown) operates to stoprotation of the conveyer motor 46. Simultaneously with the stop of theconveyer motor 46, the outer slider 140 starts moving forward, returningto the standby position as is seen in FIG. 27(a). Thereby, the pressedportion 70 c which was pressed backward can be released from thepressing force. Then, the return spring 69 can operate to close theshutter 64. The above forward movement of the outer slider 140 allowsthe locked portion 210 of the lock mechanism 204 to return to thelocation A in the lock groove 212, as is seen in FIG. 26(b).

[0176] The pair of the pins 22 b disposed at the other heights (namely,lowermost, third lowermost, fourth lowermost, fifth lowermost, sixthlowermost [uppermost]) of the stepwise slit 142 also take the sameoperations as described above for inserting the CD.

[0177] (K) Eject CD (Insertion-Ejection Mode)

[0178] Ejecting the CD from the disk receiver 2 requires pressing anumber button, for example “2”, and an ejection button. Then, the pin 22b moves from the switching position in the insertion-ejection mode inFIG. 26(a) to the standby position in FIG. 27(a), in the same manner asis observed during the insertion of the CD. Then, the CD on the seconduppermost tray 2 is set at the insertion-ejection height. Then, theouter slider 140 moves backward in a manner similar to the abovedescribed for the insertion mode, to such an extent that the pin 22 bcomes to the position as is seen in FIG. 27(b). With the backwardmovement of the outer slider 140, the shutter 64 opens. The operationsfor ejecting the CD described thus far are completely the same as thosefor inserting the CD.

[0179] Then, as is seen in FIG. 28, the outer slider 140 further movesbackward to such an extent that the pin 22 b comes to the front side ofthe insertion mode slit 144. Then, the separating cam 82 moves backward,as is seen in FIG. 33, which is interlocked with the outer slider 140 byway of the protrusion 140 b on the back side of the outer slider 140.Thereby, back face of the separating cam 82 presses the back side of theplate 135 backward. Then, the front face of the plate 135 presses thepressed area 132 b of the ejector lever 132 for pivotal movement of theejector lever 132. The pivotal movement of the ejector levers 132presses out both sides of the second uppermost CD 171. At this point intime, the CD 171 which was pressed with the plate spring 2 e is, as thecase may be, inclined opposing the biasing force of the plate spring 2e. In this case, if the ejector lever 132 is singular in number, theejector lever may be removed from the outer periphery of the CD 171,failing to eject the CD 171. Being pairwise in number, the ejectorlevers 132 will not be removed from the outer periphery of the CD 171.Pressing the ejector button simultaneously turns the conveyer motor 46,causing rotations of the roller 35 and the roller 36. Thus, the ejectedCD 171 can be interposed between the roller 35 and the roller 36, as isseen in FIG. 34, and then ejected. A limit switch (not shown) can helpprevent the CD 171 from dropping after the ejection. More specifically,when the limit switch (not shown) senses that back side of the CD 171 ispartly interposed between the roller 35 and the roller 36, the conveyermotor 46 stops rotation. After a sensor (not shown) senses that the CD171 has been ejected, the outer slider 140 moves forward such that thepin 22 b returns from the position in FIG. 28 to the standby position inFIG. 27(a).

[0180] Thereafter, a backward force which was applied from theseparating cam 82 to the plate 135 is released. With this, the biasingforce of the return spring 134 pivots the ejector lever 132 to itsoriginal position, as is indicated by an actual line in FIG. 33(a).Then, the shutter 64 closes in the same manner as is observed afterinsertion of the CD.

[0181] [78]

[0182] The pair of the pins 22 b disposed at the other heights (namely,lowermost, third lowermost, fourth lowermost, fifth lowermost, sixthlowermost [uppermost]) of the stepwise slit 142 also take the sameoperations as described above for ejecting the CD.

[0183] (L) Reproduce CD

[0184] Reproducing the CD requires pressing the number button of theselected CD, for example “2”, and a reproduction button. Then, the innerslider 139 moves forward from the position as is seen in FIG. 27(a) suchthat the pin 22 b lowers to the lowermost position of theinsertion-ejection mode slit 144 to reach the mode switching position,as is seen in FIG. 26(a). Thereafter, the outer slider 140 movesforward. Then, the upper taper face 146 b in FIG. 25(c) is pressed, tothereby lower the pin 22 b such that the pin 22 b moves to the floorslit 143 of the inner slider 139. Simultaneously with this, the pin 22 bmoves in the reproduction mode slit 145 of the outer slider 140, tothereby switch the mode to the reproduction mode, as is seen in FIG.29(a). In the switching operation described above, the pair of the pins77 of the pickup lift base 10 stay in the lowermost position of thestepwise slit 141. At this point in time, the pin 22 b is in a switchingposition in the reproduction mode (switching to the insertion-ejectionmode). Moving backward the outer slider 140 from the present statepresses the lower taper face 146 a of the switch slit 146, to therebymove the pin 22 b upward to such an extent that the pin 22 b can returnto the above described mode switching position in the insertion-ejectionmode, as is seen in FIG. 26(a). Thereafter, moving the outer slider 140forward moves the locked portion 210 of the lock mechanism 204 to alocation C which is disposed at an end of the unlock groove 213, as isseen in FIG. 26(b).

[0185] The position of the pin 22 b in FIG. 29(a) relative to the outerslider 140 is not only the mode switching position, but also a CDselecting position for selecting the CD only by changing the height ofthe pickup lift bench 10. In other words, moving backward only the innerslider 139 from the position in FIG. 29(a) allows the pair of the pins22 b to appear to make relative forward movement in the floor slit 143.Actually, the pair of the pins 22, however, are maintained in thelowermost position of the vertical slits 25. Therefore, the disk liftbase 22 remains immovable from the lowermost reproduction position. Onthe other hand, the pair of the pins 77 which are hidden behind theouter slider 140 may appear to move upward relatively along the stepwiseslit 141. Actually, the pins 77, however, move upward stepwise in thevertical slits 78. In other words, moving the inner slider 139 backwardas to dispose the pair of the pins 22 b in positions which aredesignated by No. 1 to No. 6 for the floor slit 143 causes upward and/ordownward movement of the pair of the pins 77 to height No. 1 to heightNo. 6 which are designated vertically, thereby allowing reproduction ofthe CD applicable to the height No. Shown in FIG. 29(a) is a state forreproducing the sixth CD, while shown in FIG. 29(b) is a state forreproducing the first CD.

[0186] Herein, selected is the second CD as described above. Therefore,as is seen in FIG. 30(a), the pair of the pins 77 move upward to thesecond uppermost position. The operations described hereinabove allowsthe CD to be in state for reproduction. Subsequent operations apply toany number of the CD (in other words, whatever numbered CD is selected).Moving the outer slider 140 and driving the conveyer motor 46 operatethe CD.

[0187] Hereinafter described is operation after the standby state as isseen in FIG. 30(a) where the second CD to be reproduced is selected.Shown in FIG. 30(a) is the standby state in which the pin 22 b occupiesa position D on the outer slider 140 in FIG. 30(b). In the standbystate, the separating cam 82 is disposed in a position in FIG. 37. Then,the outer slider 140 moves forward to such an extent that the pin 22 bcomes to a position E as a first step. Herein, the separating cam 82defines a lower head end which is formed on the back section of theseparating cam 82, and a lower head end which is formed on the frontsection of the separating cam 82. Then in the first step, the separatingcam 82 moves forward in such a manner that the lower head end on theback section of the separating cam 82 enters between the short pin 2 d(of the second uppermost tray 2) and the short pin 2 d (of the thirduppermost tray 2) as is seen in FIG. 35(a) and FIG. 36(a), and that thelower head end on the front section of the separating cam 82 entersbetween the long pin 2 c (of the second uppermost tray 2) and the longpin 2 c (of the third uppermost tray 2). Hereinafter, operation of thelong pin 2 c is to be omitted since it is substantially the same as thatof the short pin 2 d. Then, when the pin 22 b comes to a position F as asecond step, the short pin 2 d (of the second uppermost tray 2) isdisposed on the upper mating portion 82 j after sliding on the firstseparating controller 82 c 1. In this case, an upper head end of theseparating cam 82 enters between the short pin 2 d (of the firstuppermost tray 2) and the short pin 2 d (of the second uppermost tray2), to thereby bring about a state in FIG. 38. Then, when the pin 22 bcomes to a position G as a third step, the short pin 2 d (of theuppermost tray 2) is disposed on the upper face 82 f after sliding onthe second separating controller 82 c 2. With the pin 22 b disposed inthe position G as the third step, there are defined spaces above andbelow the second uppermost selected tray 2, as is seen in FIG. 39. Inaddition, movement of the right separating cam 82 in FIG. 7 allows theslide portion 174 e (of the lock member 174 which is biased by thespring 176) in FIG. 24 to slide on the taper face 82 u. As a result, theslide portion 174 e mates in the dent portion 82 t, as is seen in FIG.36(b). Thus, the lock portion 174 b is removed from the engagementportion 13 b of the lower arm 13, to thereby unlock the sandwichingmeans 14.

[0188] Once a sensor (not shown) senses that the pin 22 b comes up tothe position G in FIG. 30(b), the conveyer motor 46 starts rotation. Asdescribed above, when the mode was switched to the reproduction mode,the pair of the pins 22 b entered the floor slits 143, thereby pressingdownward the lever 113 of the rotary force supplying means 17.Therefore, the lever 113 makes a counterclockwise rotation around thepin 114 from a state shown in FIG. 43(b). Thus, the plate 105 movesupward, to thereby turn the lever 110 clockwise around the shaft 109.Thereby, as is seen in FIG. 43(b), the gear 112 is already in a state ofmeshing with the gear 103 h, and also with the gear 104. Thereby,rotation of the conveyer motor 46 is transmitted to the slide bar 116(formed with the rack 116 b), by way of the drive shaft 30 and the gearrow 103, to thereby move backward the slide bar 116 as is seen in FIG.44. With this, the engagement pin 116 c (of the slide bar 116) matingwith the long hole 13 a with play allows the sandwiching means 14 topivotally move forward. Thereafter, when the positioning pin 119 movespast the position c (inflection point) as is seen in FIG. 22(a), biasingforce of the toggle spring 120 is applied in the opposite direction, tothereby turn the positioning pin 119 to the position a, as is seen inFIG. 22(b). Then, as is seen in FIG. 39, the upper arm 12 and the chuckplate 99 are inserted above the selected CD 171, while the lower arm 13and the turn table 97 are inserted below the selected CD 171. Thisoperation can be described in plan view, as is seen in FIG. 45 to FIG.46. A limit switch (not shown) sensing the rotation of the sandwichingmeans 14 stops rotation of the conveyer motor 46.

[0189] As a fourth step, the outer slider 140 moves forward such thatthe pin 22 b comes up to a position H, as is seen in FIG. 30(b). Then,the short pin 2 d of the selected tray 2 drops in the middle matingportion 82 k such that the selected tray 2 and the selected CD arelowered. Thereby, the selected CD 171 can be disposed on the turn table97, as is seen in FIG. 40. Substantially simultaneously with the drop ofthe selected tray 2, the outer slider 140 together with the separatingcam 82 moves forward, to thereby operate the regulating means 18. Then,operation of the hold spring 89 moves downward the upper arm 12 of thesandwiching means 14, to thereby dispose the selected CD 171 between theturn table 97 and the chuck plate 99. Sandwiching operation is morespecifically described as follows. When the pin 22 b is in the positionG and the sandwiching means 14 occupies the standby position B, theguide pin 12 a is disposed at the horizontal portion 125 a of the guidehole 125, as is seen in FIG. 47. When the sandwiching means 14 occupiesthe reproduction position A, the guide pin 12 a moves to the verticalportion 125 b of the guide hole 125, as is seen in FIG. 48(a). As isseen in FIG. 35(b), however, the pin 127 a cannot escape in the reliefsection of the cam groove 82 r. Therefore, the back side of theconstraint lever 127 prevents the guide pin 22 b from moving downward.Thereafter, when the pin 22 b moves to the position H, the separatingcam 82 also moves forward. Thereby, the pin 127 a can move toward therelief section of the cam groove 82 r, as is seen in FIG. 35(b). Thus,as is seen in FIG. 48(b), the back side of the constraint lever 128 islowered when the pin 127 a of the constraint lever 127 biased by thespring 128 moves upward toward the relief section of the cam groove 82 rof the separating cam 82. With this, the upper arm 12 which was biasedby the hold spring 89 can be lowered, as is seen in FIG. 49, to therebysandwich the selected CD 171.

[0190] Inserting the support 92 standing on the base plate 1 e into thehollow shaft 86 which is a pivotal center of the gripping means 14accurately positions the pivotal center of the sandwiching means 14 onthe base plate 1 e. Moreover, the toggle spring 120 which keeps pressingthe positioning pin 119 to the pickup lift base 10 can accuratelyposition the turn table 97 and the chuck plate 99 circumferentially onthe track. On the other hand, the guide support 23 guiding the tray 2for carrying the CD 171 stands on the base plate 1 e, like the support92, to thereby accurately position the CD 171 on the base plate 1 e.Moreover, as is seen in FIG. 16, the CD 171 can be accurately positionedrelative to the chassis 1 by means of the positioning rod 61 a (with thepositioning rod 61 b), the positioning rod 62 a (with the positioningrod 62 b), the positioning rod 172, the positioning rod 173 (forpositioning the CD 171 at four circumferential points), and the pair ofthe longitudinal rollers 57. In addition, the CD positioner 13 c formedat the raised section of the lower arm 13 as is seen in FIG. 21positions the CD 171 relative to the lower arm 13, namely, relative tothe turn table 97. Thereby, when the selected CD is lowered, uppersection of the cone frustum 97 a of the turn table 97 can be assuredlyinserted into the hole of the CD 171. Thereby, the CD 171 can beassuredly fitted to the turn table 97. In sum, the to-be-reproduced CD,the turn table 97, and the chuck plate 99 can be centered accurately, tothereby sandwich the CD 171 assuredly.

[0191] As a fifth step (final step), the outer slider 140 moves forwardto such an extent that the pin 22 b comes to a position I, as is seen inFIG. 30(b). Then, as is seen in FIG. 35(a) and FIG. 36(a), the short pin2 d of the selected tray 2 is lowered to the lower mating portion 82 m.The selected tray 2 which was thus far in contact with the selected CD171 is lowered and thereby spaced apart from the selected CD 171, as isseen in FIG. 41. Simultaneously with this, the receiving portion 2 h (ofthe plate spring 2 e) which kept pressing the selected CD 171 is pressedupward by a lower face the upper mating portion 82 j on the back side ofthe separating cam 82, to thereby release the selected CD 171. At thispoint in time, the trays 2 below the selected tray 2 are pressed by thelower face 82 h of the separating cam 82, while the trays 2 above theselected tray 2 are biased downward by the coil spring 24. Thereby, thetrays 2 can be free from any vibration which may be caused by vehicularvibration.

[0192] From the first step to the fifth step, the locked portion 210 ofthe lock mechanism 204 moves from the location C in FIG. 26(b) towardthe other end of the unlock groove 213. At the fifth step, the lockedportion 210 of the lock mechanism 204 moves up to a location D at theother end of the unlock groove 213 to stop there.

[0193] After the selected CD is sandwiched by the sandwiching means 14as described above, reproduction of the CD starts in a state that thesandwiching means 14 is kept in the position A, as is seen in FIG. 46.At first, rotation of the spindle motor 96 turns the CD by way of theturn table 97. Then, rotation of the scan motor 165 of the pickup unit16 is transmitted to the screw shaft 164, to thereby move the opticalpickup 162 along the screw shaft 164 from radial inside toward radialoutside of the CD. With this, the CD can be reproduced. During thereproduction of the CD, the sandwiching means 14 is disposed in theposition A, as is seen in FIG. 46. Thus, unlike in FIG. 45, thesandwiching means 14 in FIG. 46 is spaced apart from the inner wall K ofthe case 177, causing a floatable state. With this, the CD can bereproduced in a state free from any direct vibration from the travellingvehicle, effecting a comfortable reproduction.

[0194] After completion of reproducing the CD, the screw shaft 164 makesa reverse rotation such that the optical pickup 162 can return to itsoriginal position. Then, the scan motor 165 stops rotation, and thespindle motor 96 stops rotation. Thereafter, the outer slider 140 movesbackward, and the separating cam 82 also moves backward, namely, insteps opposite to the steps described above. Then, the pin 127 a returnsfrom the position H to the position G, as is seen in FIG. 35(b). Then,the pin 127 a of the constraint lever 127 which was disposed in theposition as is seen in FIG. 48(b) moves downward from the relief sectionof the cam groove 82 r of the separating cam 82 as is seen in FIG.48(a), to thereby lift the back side of the constraint lever 127. Withthis, the guide pin 12 a protruding outward from the sandwiching means14 moves upward along the vertical portion 125 b of the guide hole 125,allowing the sandwiching means 14 to be rotatable. Thereafter, a sensor(not shown) senses the upward movement of the guide pin 12 a, thusturning the conveyer motor 46 in a direction opposite to the directiondescribed above for turning the sandwiching means 14 backward. Then, thepositioning pin 119 which occupied the position b in FIG. 22(b) movespast the position c (inflection point), to thereby allow the biasingforce of the toggle spring 120 to act in the opposite direction. Thus,the positioning pin 119 moves to the position b, as is seen in FIG.22(a). With this, the sandwiching means 14 returns to the standbyposition B. A limit switch (not shown) sensing rotation of thesandwiching means 14 stops rotation of the conveyer motor 46. Even inthe standby position B, the sandwiching means 14 can keep biasedbackward by means of the toggle spring 120. Thus, the sandwiching means14 can be kept free from any influence by vehicle vibration. Thereafter,movement of the separating cam 82 causes the lock member 174 to ride onthe taper face 82 u, to thereby move the lock member 174 opposing thebiasing force of the spring 176. Thus, the lock portion 174 b abuts onthe engagement portion 13 b, to thereby lock the sandwiching means 14non-pivotable. When the outer slider 140 moves backward such that thepin 22 b returns to the standby position D as is seen in FIG. 30(b), theseparating cam 28 also moves backward such that the first tray 2 to thethird tray 2 are lowered to bring about the state as is seen in FIG. 37where the six trays 2 are not separated. With this, the sandwichingmeans 14 protrudes leftward from the chassis 1 to abut on the inner wallK of the case 177, as is seen in FIG. 45. Thus, the chassis 1 is not inthe floatable state, and is therefore, subjected to vibration from thevehicle. Even in this case, however, no trouble is caused since the CDis not in the state of reproduction.

[0195] Reproducing the CD other than the second uppermost CD takes thefollowing operations: From the state shown in FIG. 30(a), move the innerslider 140 forward or backward such that the pin 22 b moves relativelyto the position denoted by any one of 1, 3, 4, 5, and 6. Thereafter,move the outer slider 140 in such a manner that the position D toposition I can sequentially mate with the pin 22 a, as is seen in FIG.30(b). With this, operations same as described above can be repeated.

[0196] In case the selected CD to be reproduced occupies theinsertion-ejection height in FIG. 16, positioning by means of thepositioning rod 61 a, the positioning rod 61 b, the positioning rod 62a, and the positioning rod 62 b cannot be effected. In this case,however, the pair of the longitudinal rollers 57 can replace thepositioning rod 61 a, the positioning rod 61 b, the positioning rod 62a, and the positioning rod 62 b. At both ends of the longitudinal roller57, there are provided the taper faces 57 a, as is seen in FIG. 17.Thus, the CD can be free from interference with the longitudinal rollers57 even when each of the CDs moves upward and downward before and afterthe reproduction.

[0197] The mode for carrying out the invention has been so exemplifiedthat the disk recording and/or reproducing apparatus is applied to thesound reproducing disk player. The mode for carrying out the inventionis, however, also applicable to a sound recording apparatus; or a soundrecording and reproducing apparatus. Moreover, not limited to the sound,the mode for carrying out the invention is applicable to a videorecording and/or reproducing apparatus. Furthermore, it has beenexemplified that the trays overlap vertically. However, the trays canoverlap horizontally. Still furthermore, the disk used is 12 cm indimension. However, the disk can be in other dimensions such as 8 cm.

[0198] Moreover, the mode for carrying out the invention exemplifiesthat the trays constituting the disk receiver are six in number.However, the trays can be less than or equal to five in number, or morethan or equal to seven in number. Moreover, the mode for carrying outthe invention exemplifies that one piece of tray 2 is used for the diskcarrying means, as is seen in FIG. 8(a) and FIG. 9. However, the diskcarrying means can be such that two-dot lines in FIG. 8(a) and FIG. 9sever the tray in order to form a pair of carrying pieces which areconstituted of only both end sections (of the aluminum plate 2 a) forcarrying thereon outer periphery of the CD, with the middle section (ofthe aluminum plate 2 a) removed.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

[0199] Other than the magnetic disk, the present invention is widelyapplicable to recording and/or reproducing apparatuses such asphotomagnetic disk, optical disk, digital video disk (DVD) and the like.

1. A disk recording and/or reproducing apparatus comprising: amechanical deck comprising: a disk receiver in which a disk carryingmeans for carrying a disk is stacked, and a disk recording and/orreproducing section for recording and/or reproducing the disk receivedin the disk receiver; and an outer case casing the mechanical deck,characterized in that a relaxation mechanism and a lock mechanism aredisposed between the mechanical deck and the outer case, the relaxationmechanism preventing vibration from being transmitted mutually betweenthe mechanical deck and the outer case, the lock mechanism locking themechanical deck to the outer case in such a manner as to oppose arelaxing operation of the relaxation mechanism.
 2. The disk recordingand/or reproducing apparatus as described in claim 1, characterized inthat the relaxation mechanism comprises: a first plate mounted to theouter case, a second plate mounted to the mechanical deck, a damperinterposed between the first plate and the second plate, and a springhaving a first end engaging with the first plate and a second endengaging with the second plate such that the mechanical deck is in ahanging state relative to the outer case.
 3. The disk recording and/orreproducing apparatus as described in claim 2, characterized in that thelock mechanism locks the mechanical deck in a disk insertion-ejectionmode, and unlocks the mechanical deck in a mode other than the diskinsertion-ejection mode where the mechanical deck is in operation. 4.The disk recording and/or reproducing apparatus as described in claim 3,characterized in that the lock mechanism comprises: a locked portiondisposed at the mechanical deck, a locking portion disposed at the outercase, the locking portion locking the locked portion in the diskinsertion-ejection mode and unlocking the locked portion in the modeother than the disk insertion-ejection mode where the mechanical deck isin operation, and a slider moving the locked portion between a lockposition and an unlock position.
 5. The disk recording and/orreproducing apparatus as described in claim 4, characterized in that thelocked portion is slidably disposed on a side face of the mechanicaldeck.
 6. The disk recording and/or reproducing apparatus as described inclaim 4, characterized in that the locking portion is formed with: alock groove with which the locked portion engages in the diskinsertion-ejection mode, and an unlock groove for disengaging the lockedportion in the mode other than the disk insertion-ejection mode.